Ionia County has a new health officer after predecessor Chad Shaw accepted the role of administrator.
Haleigh Leslie has returned to West Michigan to lead the department in providing access to health information and resources for all residents. She was hired by the Ionia County Board of Commissioners in May.
The Paw Paw native considers West Michigan a great place to live and work.
“I’m excited to be back,” she said.
Leslie holds a doctorate in public health from East Tennessee State University and, before accepting the job in Ionia County, was the Regional Response Program Manager for the Oregon Health Authority.
Leslie answered a few additional questions about her role, the benefits provided by the Ionia County Health Department and the challenges residents face. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
What interested you about the health officer position in Ionia County?
Leslie: I enjoy living and working in rural communities. Ionia County has good communities with lots of events and outdoor activities.
Describe the role of the health department and how you’re funded. What’s your budget for the current fiscal year?
Leslie: The Ionia County Health Department works to protect and promote the health of the community. We work with community partners to help people get access to health care and other resources. We have a budget of about $1 million, most of which comes from federal and state grants.
What are some of the public health issues you’re focused on in Ionia County? What are some of the biggest challenges residents face?
Leslie: Some of the public health issues Ionia County faces include increases in communicable diseases, natural disasters, and tick-borne illnesses, such as Lyme disease. Many people face challenges with the cost of health care. The Ionia County Health Department helps to fill this gap with programs and services to (aid access to) preventative care.
Many of our programs and services help get people connected to resources they may not have known were available.
What are some of the resources people don’t realize are available to them?
Leslie: (The Ionia County Health Department) provides a variety of services and programs, including but not limited to well and septic permits, restaurant inspections, vision and hearing screenings in schools, maternal and infant health services, and services for children with special health care needs. We also connect people with resources throughout the county to help with clothing, food, housing, mental health services, and transportation.
We work with other departments, such as the Commission on Aging, as well as community partners, such as The Right Door, to help people get access to resources and services.
How do you plan to communicate with residents, providers and other county stakeholders about departmental activities?
Leslie: Our department shares information on social media, through press releases, on our website and through community outreach. We encourage people to follow us on Facebook, as well.
Contact the department at 616-527-5341.
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Sentinel-Standard. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@sentinel-standard.com.
This article originally appeared on Ionia Sentinel-Standard: What to know about Ionia County’s new health officer, Haleigh Leslie
Reporting by M. Alan Scott / Ionia Sentinel-Standard
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